Donnababe

Reading the comparisions between Zarita and Sugar Skull got me corncerned as Sugar Skull turned me into a pancake. I fully expected to smell a sickly sweet cream but no, it's a sharp and dry iris and orange combo as soon as it hits my skin. This is lovely, but not what I was expecting.

Unusually for me, the carnation it very muted and only appears quite a while into the dry down. It does a good job softening the dry orange and iris. Eventually, the long term drydown of Zarita is a beautiful sweet and creamy floral. I don't get any Alice similarites with this blend.

Some BPAL, (even the ones I love) sometimes go through a scent phase that I don't care for. Zarita delights me at every stage and I adore it.

A glorious success. Will need more before the end of the CD

This review is pretty much the same as my Snake Oil one, so bear that in mind and add the following...

I like Bliss as a fragrance but it turned too nutty on my skin to merit a bottle so I thought the soap would be a nice alternative. The soap smells darker and less sweet than I remember the oil being, it's very nice. Like others have said, the fragrance could do with being more prominent. It reminds me somewhat of African Black Soap both in appearance and aroma. I love the addition of the goats milk.

The wrapper is even more beautiful than the SO one.

Bravo again Macha

Buttery hot pie crusts. A little fruit but mostly crusts. Rose sweetness appears after a few minutes but it's nowhere near obvious enough to make me like this

I'm going to be boring and echo many of the reviews here.

The packaging is beautiful.

The soap looks beautiful.

It smells divine without overpowering the entire bathroom (something the hubby despises).

The lather is nice, (although a bit muted on a cloth.)

It doesn't dry me out.

It's soft enough for me to slice some off then carefully repackage the rest

You know you've sudded in Snake Oil but the fragrance is by no means intimitading and it's a perfect base for any BPAL, but especially the Snakes.

Exquisite.

I cannot wait to try Bliss!

The original Pink Moon is very playful, innocent and sweet. Like this PINK

Pink Moon 07 = carnations plus a touch of sweetness that I suppose is from the phlox. It's this kind of PINK I like this very much but it isn't quite as sweet as I expected. The original was extremely girlie, wheras this is a little more austure and guarded. Still lovely however!

It smells extremely vinegar like in the imp but knowing BPAL I tried it anyway. To be fair it is better on the skin but it's still an overpowering sweet ciderish vinegar smell. The carnation does come out and sweeten things after a while but this one's not for me. In fact, most of the new MTP additions have been a disaster

The Snake Pit labels are without question, the best ever in the history of BPAL. Absolutely stunning.

Two, Five and Seven. Sweet, bright and glorious.

I never tried Midway, so can't compare it to that but I was worried about it's jasmine potential. So far, my success rate is laughable.

From the bottle it's a surprise, this is a quietly floral Chaste Moon! Wonderful!

Initially on the skin it's identical but after thirty seconds or so here come FLOWERS!

I decide to stick with it because although it's a bit overpowering it isn't jasmine, just an overall blue floral smell. After a few minutes the mega floral subsides and the Chaste Moon smellalikeee peeks through. And that's how it stays. I haven't noticed incense specifically, but maybe that's what I'm smelling when I think I smell CM.

A surprising, glorious winner. Another bottle is extremely likely!

I'm very finicky when it comes to rose scents, it was lust at first sight with Othello and Blood Rose but after a while the passion wore off and dumped 'em. Red Rose was GREEN on me and very intimidating although I did love the touch of sweetness I got from it. I tried RR a long time ago and I've never found a blend that evokes that same gorgeous sweetness.

Until now.....

Two, Five & Seven is it! There is a touch of greenery initially, but it's nowhere near as harsh and prominent as Rose Red. The rose is sweet, so sweet, almost to the point of resembling sugared or jellied blooms. I want to lick my wrists!

It is strong, and I can't pick out the individual roses as some can, but I love this. It has wonderful staying power and it's the perfect scent I'll need to get me through the dark, cold months ahead. Exquisite.

Thanks Labbies for this glorious freebie. A bottle has already been ordered.

OK, I don't do butterscotch but felt the need to try some anyway 'coz I love the idea of rum spiked coconut.

I knew I was in trouble when I opened the envelope (my source was a decant btw). I could smell it before I'd even opened the bubble wrap At first I thought there had been a spillage but the vial was perfect. This is strong stuff!

Sniffing from the vial it's encouragingly boozy but mostly butter a la Grog. Wearing is the same and the butter is too much and apples are nowhere in sight. I have to remove it very shortly after applying (or try to anyway), the stuff takes ages to wash off. Oh well, shoulda known, shouldn't I?

Despite a lot of rosewood initially, this soon becomes a soothing blend of lavender and tonka. Very nice. Has potential as a big bottle, and will be perfect with Dee's Meadow Sweet soap.

Sweet, slightly smoky rose. Strangely, I don't get any carnation and that normally screams on me.

Gorgeous. Should have bought more than one bottle.

Sticky, sweet figgy deliciousness. I get a hint of cocoa particularly at the start, but it's mostly fig. IMHO, this is a near doppelganger to Carnal.

I tend to avoid vanillas because they have a tendancy to go all custard-like on me. On initial application this is very sweet but soon settles down and does not become cloying at all. This will sound very odd, but I get the impression of a salt smell from time to time.

Very pretty, very ethereal. Not completely me, but I am seriously considering a bottle for layering purposes.

In the Bottle: Bliss with tangerine!!

Immediately on the Skin: Very much the same. It's still Bliss but the citrus is very encouraging and stopping it from being too sickly.

After a While: Not much difference but I can smell the blackcurrant now too.

Verdict: Chocolate with fabulous accompaniment from tangerine/mandarin and blackcurrant. There maybe a little tea also in the latter stages but it's very subtle.

I this! It's decadent and juicy and much to my surprise given the notes and my past history, not at all cloying. At last, a BPAL chocolate blend I can wear! Roll on next Friday 13th

Bathsheba

Whoa, PLUM! Hang on, here comes a touch of carnation.... Oh dear, IMO these scents do not go together at all. I can't exactly say what has gone wrong here but this isn't working. I may attempt it again just in case my skin chemistry was misbehaving but until then this is such a shame. It sounded so lovely...

Kumiho

A short and sweet review.

I've finally come to the conclusion that the majority of scents which contain tea will turn to a sharp lemon on me. The ginger never really makes an appearance and whilst Sudha Segara if fast becoming a new sweet and gentle favourite, Kumiho is far too harsh and astringent.

Spooky

Butter scents do have the tendency to go very wrong but I was hopeful the mint and particularily the coconut would favour me as I so adore Perversion. When its wet and only just on the skin its divine, liquid peppermint creams, but soon after that it's nothing but a nasty butter aroma. I decided to try again, this time layering with Snake Oil but it didn't help much.

I can't really add more to the previous reviews

MWE is sweet, juicy plums. It's far too sweet for me to wear everyday but it's a perfect Cheer Me Up on a Cold Day scent.

Lovely. I'm glad Beth brought it back

The comparisons to the lovely 'Sugar' by Fresh made me forget to wait for the imp in my pending order and order a bottle from the lovely folk at Apothecary's Cat.........

Bottle

Lemon tea and just a touch of lavender. Very promising.

On the skin

Oh noooooooo!!! Far far far too sweet. Nauseatingly so. This is Regan without the floral.

After a While

Still far too sweet for me but from time to time I do get a lovely waft of lemon tea.

Verdict

I tried this twice throughout the course of the day in the desperate hope my opinion would improve. I do like it a little more than my initial thoughts but in the end this is far too sugary for me.

I am really fed up. Please don't tell me Spooky is this sweet ........

I can't remember Intrigue being particularly fig worthy and Mata Hari is all jasmine and coffee so my votes go to Carnal and Nemesis. I will soon have bottles of both.

Carnal is the figgier of the two IMO but the both have that beautiful sticky sweetness

Cold Moon

When the reviews started coming in for this I became very nervous. Aquatic? Noooooooo....... Luckily folks soon began to compare it to Blue Moon (the only other Lunar Oil I have) and I began to breathe a little easier.

It is like Blue Moon.

First off, before it's dries on the skin it's Ice Queen, very sweet frosted fruits. I find Ice Queen too sweet overall so this is a perfect compromise for me.

I don't find Cold Moon particularly cold. Where Snow White means walking through freshly fallen snow, Cold Moon gives me images of a frosty midnight walk to a pond to go gazing at the moon in the relection of the still water.

This is very ethereal and very calming. Gorgeous.

La Belle au Bois Dormant

I don't have much luck with white florals but the description of this just made me swoon.

Out of the imp this is sweet and calm but doesn't scream pear.

On the skin the pear is there but it's not like the wet uber juicy sweetness of Endymion, but the rough skin of a pear that isn't quite ripe. Behind the fruit I can definitely smell magnolias.

After just a few minutes the pear vanishes and I'm left with a fragrance which it similiar on me to Black Dahlia, but with an unpleasent metallic twang. I'm guessing this is probably the Tuberose. This continues for the duration of the scent and makes it a miss for me.

Lady MacBeth

In the bottle - sharp, juicy red fruit

On the skin - Much sweeter with the addition of herbs.

This hardly changes from start to finish. This is extremely sweet on me with the occasional tart note catching my attention.

If you want to smell like jam this one is for you!